2018 Mabel's VCR - Viognier, Chardonnay, Riesling

BRONZE MEDAL, 2020 DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS

Mabel's VCR is all about "the last".  Prior to Sue-Ann's arrival in the world, Mabel Staff was the last female born in the Staff family in 87 years...and this wine is made from the last Viognier grown on the estate. 

On Ontario original!  Mabel's VCR is a fascinating blend of 50% Viognier, 35% Chardonnay and  15% Riesling. Each wine was vinified separately, with the final assemblage taking place before bottling. 

Suggestions of baked apple, preserved lemon, and just a hint of oak on the nose. Citrus and baked apple notes continue on the palate, which is dry, firm and distinctly lean on the finish. A flinty or slate-like element runs throughout the wine.

• 50% of the blend is estate-grown Viognier. The fruit was hand-harvested early to retain acidity, and whole cluster pressed in a one-ton basket press before transfer to re-coopered French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine aged 11 months on lees in the barrel. 

• 35% of the blend is Chardonnay from Niagara on the Lake. The wine was barrel fermented, with malolactic fermentation happening concurrently with alcohol fermentation. The wine was aged 11 months on lees in French oak. 

• The remaining 15% is estate grown Riesling, cool-fermented and aged in stainless steel. 

Alc 12%     RS 8.4 g/l     TA 8.2 g/l     pH 3.05

Appearance: Straw colour with a greenish tint.
Nose: Apple and peach nose with a honeyed note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, green apple and green peach flavours carried on lively acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2022.
Critic Rating: 88 points – Tony Aspler